The Old Ore Terminal - An Enthusiast's Website

Then

Now

The Old Ore Terminal as of February 2004. The 'then and now' shots were both taken with the photographer standing roughly in the same position.

Courtesy National Park Service

What's New (Research)

• I'll be speaking about the history of the Ore Terminal and Tramway at the Annual Conference of the Center for Big Bend Studies. Sul Ross University, Alpine, TX. Nov. 11, 2005.

• Article by Carlos Moser! Article about the Tramway. 1911.

• Farmer Jennings Memoirs!

• The President of the del Carmen Mining Company identified as Carlos J. Moser.

• Mining Master's Degree Thesis on Puerto Rico Mine, 1909.

• Historical photo section added.

• Company that built the tramway and terminal identified as the Del Carmen Company.

• The customs officer assigned to the terminal identified as Mr. Rutledge.

Purpose

Welcome! This website is dedicated to uncovering the true story of the Old Ore Terminal and aerial tramway in Big Bend National Park.

It took guts to imagine the aerial tramway and to build it in the early 1900’s. The terrain is rough, hot, and desolate. I want to discover the stories of the investors from San Antonio and Houston who invested the $100,000 to build the tramway and terminal; the guy who they hired to build it, Farmer Jennings of San Antonio; the guys who built it, most likely Mexican laborers from the Boquillas area; the guys who ran it; and the customs inspector(s) who were stationed there.

Please join me as we uncover the untold story.

Joel Greenberg
Austin, TX

What You Can Do on this Site

• See what it’s like to hike to the Old Ore Terminal

• Read about the history.

• Discuss the hike, history.

• Participate in research on the history of the terminal and tramway.